Monterey cypress (Macrocarpa)
| Kingdom: plantae |
| Division: spermatophytes (seeded plants) |
| Subdivision: gymnosperms {(naked seed), softwoods} |
| Order: Pinales |
| Family: Cupressaceae |
| Genus: Cupressus (recently reclassified to the Genus: Callitropsis, mostly from North America and Vietnam) |
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Species: macrocarpa [from Latin, Macro-large + Greek karpos 'fruit': so large fruited cypress (fr. Greek kyparissos)]
Binomial name: Cupressus macrocarpa |
Images clockwise from top left: wood (not quite quarter-sawn); tree, Swan Point track; indeco soap wedge in Macrocarpa; cones of macrocarpa.
Monterey cypress or Macrocarpa is a species of cypress endemic to the Monterey Bay area of central California.
It has been grown in Tasmania for windbreaks and its wood being fairly durable has been used for bee boxes, boat building, outdoor furniture fence posts, firewood. Can grow quite large to 40 m tall and diameter to 3 m in New Zealand.
When freshly cut has a very stong odour. Has very low shrinkage rates, green to 12% moisture content:
Tangential 3.3%; Radial 1.6%
| species | dry density kg/m3 | Janka hardness (side grain), dry kN |
| Monterey cypress | 540 | 3.44 |
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